The Anti-Burghers were opponents of the Burgher Oath on theological grounds. History First Secession In 1733 the First Secession from the Church of Scotland resulted in the creation of the "Associate Presbytery". This church split in 1747 over the issue of the Burgher Oath, which required holders of public offices to affirm approval of the religion "presently professed in this kingdom". The issue was civil compulsion in religious affairs, a forerunner of later arguments over the separation of church and state. Opponents of the Burgher Oath on theological grounds became known as the Anti-Burghers — showing a distinctive independence of conviction and an unwillingness to compromise over sincerely held beliefs. The Burgher and Anti-Burgher factions thus formed rival, independent synods – the General Associate Synod (Antiburghers) and the Associate Synod (Burghers) "Auld Licht" and "New Licht" Eventually both the Burghers and Anti-Burghers had further splits, the Burghers in 1798 and the Anti-Burghers in 1806. Both factions formed their own, separate "Auld Licht" (old light) and "New Licht" factions. The more Calvinistic "Auld Lichts" held to the obligations of the Solemn League and Covenant, the "New Lichts" were more theologically liberal — a notable and continuing influence in the post-1847 United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. New Licht Anti-Burghers In 1820, the majority of the New Licht Anti-Burghers united with the New Licht Burghers as the United Secession Church. "A conservative 'clique' led by Professor George Paxton and Dr Stevenson [George Stevenson of Ayr] forming the 'Synod of Protesters' in May 1821." The United Secession Church in turn united with the Relief Church in 1847 to create the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The United Presbyterian Church united with most of the Free Church of Scotland in 1900 to create the United Free Church of Scotland, most of whom ultimately reunited with the Church of Scotland in 1929. Auld Licht Anti-Burghers The Anti-Burgher Auld Lichts formed the Constitutional Associate Presbytery. The four ministers who constituted it were James Aitken of Kirriemuir, Archibald Bruce, James Hog of Kelso and Thomas M'Crie the elder. The "Synod of Protesters" including George Paxton (minister) joined it in 1827 and it became the Original Secession Church. In 1842 this body united with the portion of the Old Light Burgher Synod which had not joined the Church of Scotland in 1839, to form the United Original Secession Church. This church split in 1852, one party joining in the